Three charged over $300K fraud and forgery scheme

Three individuals have been formally charged in connection with alleged offences of Obtaining by False Pretence and Forgery of an Official Document, stemming from a case involving a businessman on the West Coast of Demerara.

The accused are:

• Paul Watson, 49, a driver of Old Road, Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo;
• Parbattie Sharma, also known as “Paro”, 58, a self-employed woman of Independence Street, La Grange, West Bank Demerara; and
• Omar Rudolph, 55, a driver of Independence Street, La Grange, West Bank Demerara.

According to court documents, the trio is jointly charged with Obtaining by False Pretence, contrary to Section 194 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act Chapter 8:01, as well as four counts of Forgery of an Official Document, contrary to Section 245(a) of the same Act. The offences are alleged to have been committed against a 43-year-old businessman of La Union Public Road, West Coast Demerara, between September 2024 and May 2025.

The accused appeared before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Vreed-En-Hoop Magistrates’ Court, where the charges were formally read to them. They were not required to enter a plea at this stage.

Each of the accused was granted bail of $300,000 in relation to the offences. The matter has been adjourned to February 17, 2026, for further court proceedings.

The case highlights ongoing concerns about financial crimes targeting small and medium-sized business owners in the region, and authorities have urged vigilance among the public when engaging in business transactions.